Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.

Below, you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful. For more frequent updates on what's happening in Michigan and the state Legislature, please visit my Facebook or Instagram pages.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.

Sincerely,

Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District

An upcoming Michigan Supreme Court ruling could have major consequences for workers across our state, especially in the restaurant industry.

The pending court decision relates to what many call the “adopt and amend” case. In September 2018, the Legislature adopted citizen-initiated legislation related to mandated minimum wage increases and paid sick leave in Michigan. A few months later, the Legislature amended the proposal.

The Supreme Court will first decide if the “adopt and amend” process was constitutional. If the court decides it was constitutional, then our current law remains in effect. If the court decides the process was unconstitutional, it is difficult to project what could happen next.

Right now, minimum wage in Michigan is $10.33 per hour. An exception to this rule is for tipped-wage employees — a portion of their wages comes from their employer and the rest they make up on tips. Restaurant servers often make more than minimum wage under this system.

If the court decides that the originally adopted language is the effective law in Michigan, then tipped wage employees would have to be paid a full minimum wage from the employer, a change that would turn the restaurant industry upside down. Possible changes include higher menu prices, more automation, and altered tipping patterns — all of which could lead to lost jobs in the restaurant industry.

There would be many other possible consequences, including some related specifically to paid leave policies. No matter what happens, the Legislature must be prepared to do what is needed to protect Michigan jobs and opportunities.

The Legislature is still working toward final budget plans for the state fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

Recently, the Democratic majority voted to divert roughly $670 million away from paying off debt in the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MSPERS) to instead spend on other initiatives.

We should pay off this debt in accordance with a state law from 2018. The law helps ensure that the state stays on schedule with its debt payments, and we cannot reduce the overall payment amount until the overall MPSERS debt — still more than $30 billion — is paid off. It’s like a car or home loan — the longer you take to pay it off, the more it is going to cost. It is imperative we stay the course and continue to pay down this liability as quickly as possible to reduce the long-term burden on taxpayers and ensure school retirees receive the benefits they have been promised.

If we have to rely on raiding the retirement fund of Michigan’s teachers to balance the books, that means we went wrong somewhere. The sensible thing to do would be considering areas to cut spending, not simply take more from taxpayers and put the already-underfunded teacher retirement fund further at risk.

I oppose the negligent spending included in this budget and the idea that raiding retirement funds is a viable solution. This is just another example of the current majority’s unsustainable spending and willingness to rack up debt and stick future generations with the bill.

Senate Republicans have introduced legislation to help property owners more easily remove trespassing squatters from their property. Senate Bill 909 would allow property owners to file a complaint with their local county sheriff to order the immediate removal of unlawful squatters.

Squatting – the practice of illegally occupying a property – has become a serious problem for property owners across the state. While squatting is already a crime in Michigan, current law forces homeowners to battle bureaucratic red tape and navigate burdensome legal hurdles to remove squatting criminals from their private property.

SB 909 was referred to the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety for further consideration.

The warm and wet conditions of spring and early summer create ideal conditions for some of Michigan’s nuisance insect species like ticks and mosquitoes.

Bites from these insects can be more than just an annoyance; they can also have future health implications. Both ticks and mosquitoes can carry the risk of spreading diseases to people and animals.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself from tick and mosquito bites and the potential illnesses that can come with them:

Is your family safe online? Internet Safety Month is the perfect time to review and update your internet safety measures and to make sure your devices are secure.

While the internet can be a valuable tool, anytime we are online, we face the potential of becoming a victim of internet crimes. Because the internet is constantly growing and changing, it requires special attention to protect not only your data but to maintain your personal safety as well.

There are several resources available to help Michigan residents and businesses keep their digital devices safe. Visit Michigan.gov/Cybersecurity or ProtectMiChild.com for more information.

In 2022, Legislative Republicans led the effort to pass a bipartisan funding plan that used once-in-a-generation federal dollars to make long-term investments in our state’s crumbling infrastructure. That landmark agreement laid the groundwork for the construction currently taking place on roads and bridges across the state.

While 2024 will certainly be remembered as the summer of the orange barrel, the short-term hassle today will mean transformational changes that will improve our state, our communities, and the lives of Michigan families for decades to come.

Drivers can use the MiDrive website for real-time information about current road and bridge projects. The site allows users to view live images from any of the 665 traffic cameras along Michigan highways, monitor traffic speeds, locate incidents, and identify active and future construction zones.